The cultural capital of the indigo-dyed textiles community of phu tai ethnic group for the development of creative tourism communities

Nội dung text: The cultural capital of the indigo-dyed textiles community of phu tai ethnic group for the development of creative tourism communities

1. Pokkasina Chathiphot et al/ No.19_Sep 2020|p.108-120 Phanna Nikhom district become a center of various regularly until it became known to the general tourism activities and therefore, it is important to public that Sakon Nakhon is a city of dharma. provide and share information for promoting and 3) Ethnic groups managing creative tourism of the region as well. Sakon Nakhon Province has many ethnic From this study, it is found that all 4 villages, groups. Since it is an area that is rich in ancient such as Ban Nong Khrong, Ban Don Kloy, Ban civilization known as "Sakon Nakhon basin" in the Kham Kha and Ban Oun Dong, have diverse past, there are many people from different ethnic cultural capital because the people who live in this background groups, especially people from the land region have a long history with a continuous of Laos who has migrated to settle in this area for acculturation and assimilation of culture till the generations. This made the travelers to describe the present. These assimilated cultures comprise local people of Sakon Nakhon as: "The people of Sakun knowledge, beliefs and characteristics of ethnic use the water from the big basin consisting of the groups living in that area. Therefore, the study can people of Laos, Phu Tai and Anam, who grow rice be divided into 3 issues as described below: as their main occupation. The villagers can also 1) Indigo dyed fabric produce salt by washing the salted soil in a normal Indigo dyeing is considered an important way. They sell pets to Siamese merchants which is cultural capital because it is the result due to the sold to Bangkok". According to Somdej Krom transmission of wisdom from ancestors, which Phraya Damrong Rajanupab (2016: 284), different creates value and provides source of income for the people while visiting inspect Udon Thani and Isan community from producing indigo dyed fabrics Provinces by mentioning various classes of people products associated with the valuable wisdom of meetings and the Department of Political Affairs the village. These made the indigo dyeing brought in to meet as follows: "The citizens of community to be attractive, interesting and Udon and Northeastern counties that I met were touching. When indigo dyeing has become well- Thai Lan Chang mostly. But there are still other known and popular with outsiders, Indigo dyeing people that are different from Thai Lan Chang and community has become an important tourist have other names [2]. destination of Sakon Nakhon province, especially Many other species I tried to ask to see that tourists who are interested in eco-tourism, cultural there were 8 different species, namely Thais, and sustainable tourism in close association with Kaleong, Yo, Saek, Yoy, Tak, and So. Similarly, nature and the way of life of folk people and their Theerasawat (2014 : 188) said that about one-third local culture. This gradually leads to the expansion of the population were migrants from the left bank of indigo dying occupation among the indigo dying of the Mekong River, namely Suwannakhet, Kham community living in the region. For this research, Muan, Borikhamsai, Chiang Khwang, Hua Phan the researcher selected 4 indigo dyeing (Sam Nuea) and Vientiane to settle around Phu communities, which are the communities that have Phan mountains. One of the reasons which made the potential of producing of indigo dyeing the Thai government to allow these migrants to products and the capabilities to expose the wisdom settle in the Siam area is because Anuwong who is to the tourists who visit the places. the king of the Vientiane Kingdom refused to be 2) Temples and religious sites under Thai influence. This is to prevent Vientiane from returning back to their kingdom again by Sakon Nakhon people have a particular way of providing them land to settle around Phu Phan and life and belief that is associated with Buddhism for the central region, which made the Thai state easier a long time. As can be seen in Sakon Nakhon to control from neighbouring aggression [3]. To the Province, there are many famous monks such as left side of Thailand is Laos and Tai Phuan is Yo, Reverend Grandfather Mun Phurithat, Reverend Saek, So as Kha, and Phu Tai person, so it can be Grandfather Fan Ajajaro, Reverend Grandfather said that Sakon Nakhon basin is an area of mixed Louie Chantasaro, and Reverend Grandfather Sim culture and people. It is also found from interviews Putthajaro. These monks are famous practitioners with the monks of each village that the ethnic with a reputation for goodness and merit-making, groups that live in each village are different, both in resulting in the creation of temples as well as being terms of history of migration from different a teacher of many famous monks in Thailand and settlements including language culture and most importantly, these monks are the anchor of the traditions that are unique to each ethnic group. villagers. As a result, till date, the villagers still give importance to the maintenance of religion, In addition, cultural capital comprising of the usually visit the temple to make merit and listen to wisdom of indigo dyeing community living in the the sermon of the monk in unison everyday on village can be developed to economic value as the important days or on Buddhist day. Even the culture and traditions of the ethnic groups in all 4 younger generation or children still believe that villages have their own distinct identity according they should go to make merit at the temple to their groups, religion, language and traditions. 111
2. Pokkasina Chathiphot et al/ No.19_Sep 2020|p.108-120 Methodology especially the data from the interviews and iii) This research is a qualitative research with a audiovisual camera was used to record slide and particular focus on collecting field data about motion pictures and tape recorder was also used to indigo dyeing in relation to the social and cultural keep the data in general. context of ethnic Phu Tai living in Sakon Nakhon Research Results and Discussion province of Thailand. In other words, it is a form of This research results are as follows participatory action research targeted in the process Research Results of indigo dyed cloth that is developed as a creative The preliminary study is to understand the cultural tourism village. The analysis of this social and cultural context of indigo dyed weaving research is done by using creative tourism community of Phanna Nikhom district in all 4 conceptual framework obtained from the communities in order to show the important context interdisciplinary data. that leads to the development of the path of creative The field research was conducted through tourism which has the content and details as interviews and participant observation in order to follows: understand the social phenomena worldwide and 1. Phu Tai Community: Context study and local behavior of villagers who inherited the tradition and wisdom ritual related with their life and society. It also focused on the cultural capital of the indigo dyed Ban Don Kloy textiles community of Phu Tai Ethnic group for the Indigo Dye weaving group was established on development of creative tourism communities. September 3, 2003 with Mrs. Tawin Upari as the The researcher collected the data from from the current group president. Ban Don Kloy weaving following areas, focusing on the field study at the group originated from the idea of a group of people study area in the villages where the communities of in the village. That is, Mrs. Tawin and other Phanna Nikhom district, Sakon Nakhon produced housewives who want to increase income for the indigo dyed cloth: Ban Nong Khrong, Ban Don families and communities. After these groups went Kloy, Ban Kham Kha, Ban Oundong. To conduct to work on weaving, various places saw the market the participant and non-participants observation, direction of indigo dyeing as having a relatively informal interviews with key informants were high price. It later on brings awareness to the made. The researcher used the following techniques general public both inside and outside the province, and tools: 1) Observation: The researcher used the who became more and more interested in weaving participant observation to observe the cultural area, jobs and started to sell weaving products by oneself people's lifestyle in the community such as the until the group was founded. indigo dyeing, weaving, indigo management, The initial stage of the group was supported by participant observation by group discussion in the district development officers, who helped in community with people who made indigo dyed supporting equipment for weaving. Subsequently, cloth.2) Interview: The interview was conducted by Sakon Nakhon Province Commerce Department dividing the key informants into 3 groups as supported the registration of the group. After that, a follows: 1) village headman, vice village headman group of agencies, both the public and private 2) women's group head, the head of village funds sectors, continue to support the Ban Don Kloy who focused on indigo dyed cloth and 3) officer of indigo dyeing group. Gradually, it expanded to provincial community development, officer of educational institutions within the province, local district community development, provincial culture government organization and many agencies from and stake holder with a focus on the promotion of Sakon Nakhon province. There is a training to give indigo dyed into a cultural product of the province. knowledge in group management product 3) Instruments: The instruments in this research development and to provide support in obtaining consisted of the following: i) interview schedule various weaving devices was the main tool used to collect the data by having In the past, weavers wove cotton fabrics and informal individual interviews. ii) note was used to therefore cotton trees were planted in their family record at fieldwork by job reviewing in each day farm. But nowadays, it is replaced by fibers 113
3. Pokkasina Chathiphot et al/ No.19_Sep 2020|p.108-120 shops in Bangkok, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani or dyeing cloth, Nang Phira is popularly known as a customers in nearby provinces and also have teacher. She organizes academic group processing customers who are entrepreneurs from foreign group and entrepreneur group to learn many countries such as Laos, Holland and Japan. When methods of making indigo dyeing. There are also a considered a harmonious group there is cooperation group of observers, both thai and foreigners who among people in the community. There are receive information via online social studies and products that are natural. They can make outsiders, who have the interest to learn indigo dyeing. including academic groups, community leaders, and Foreign students from the United States and Japan various departments, interested in learning study came to learn indigo dyeing especially mud trips and use as a community classroom for staining, and to practice dyeing cloth. students. The community is also ready for Ban Oundong tourists’entrepreneur group and designers to join Ban Oundong group has many indigo plants that the community in order to develop and create are cultivated for using within the group. There are economic value. varieties of indigo pods in the village, but the group Ban Kham Kha prefer to grow and use straight indigo pods because This Indigo dye weaving group is located at Ban it is easy to harvest and is a traditional breed indigo Kham Kha, Phanna Nikhom District in Sakon pod, which is a species that has a strong smell and Nakhon Province with Mrs. Pira Prasertkantong as requires a lot of water. The geographical location of group president. This weaving group was Ban Oundong is ideal for growing indigo pod along established in the beginning of 1994, with Nang the flat hillside there is a water source not far from Phira being persuaded by Mae Thita (who is the the community. In addition, it has abundant rainfall first to revived indigo in the community) and khun and this climatic condition is optimum for indigo Jiw (Praphaiphan Daengjai) in Ban Na Dee to come tree to grow well. So, many house in Ban Oundong together to revive and make indigo dyes. later, Mrs. has indigo plantation. At the same time, Ban Pira took a serious step in establishing the weaving Oundong, is a wholeseller of indigo in Bangkok as group. She was registered until receiving the there is lots of demand of indigo products from the selection of 5 -star OTOP products, but the Ban village and the group design and produce the Kham Kha weaving group still is affiliated to Mae products according to the market demand. The Thita group till date. Initially, the group has 20 formation of the indigo pot of Ban Oundong members, most of whom were descendants of weaving group is special, from the process of villagers working in Bangkok and returned to help preparing lye to mixing the components in the each other in the group. Currently, there are about indigo pot, that is to say, the lye must be prepared 40 members. In addition, the group also has by using the ashes obtained from burning of the methods to transfer the wisdom to the children to front part of banana rhizome, papaya tree, teach the new generation (primary and secondary chamchuri, spinach, cassia, and kapok bark. The level students) the art of knitting hats, bags, purse ashes are put in a hole-punching container at the and so on. This will help the young generation the bottom and it is the covered with coconut fiber, importance of traditional wisdom and profession. kapok or sponge, then water is added to filter out Ban Kham Kha weaving group has participated the drip through this container. After that, it is then in various projects that are to develop and upgrade mixed with lye, indigo, ime, boiled rice sauce the weaving fabric, both G (Green Production) water, leaves, sugar, tamarind etc. When the indigo project, which guarantees products from water has a greenish-yellowish color in air with environmentally friendly production processes. appearance of a small blue bubble on the surface of They are joining the international arts and crafts the water, it is assumed that the indigo water is center for providing education and training to those ready for dyeing. who participate in this project. The G (Green The group blended ancient patterns and basic Production) project selected mechanical teachers of patterns inspired by the nature around them, such as Ban Kham Kha and Ban Na Dee Group, to receive turtle scales, klet lan patterns, and mudmee the G logo. Nowadays, in the industry of indigo patterns, Klet Tao and Klet Lan scales (Varanus 115
4. Pokkasina Chathiphot et al/ No.19_Sep 2020|p.108-120 community has other beliefs other than Buddhism, 2.2 The Very Local Trip pattern especially belief in supernatural power and Lak This route based on the Very Local Trip Chai Jai Ban is part of this belief. Learning or emphasizes a deep tourism activity in communities getting to know Lak Chai Jai Ban is like creating run by Thai and foreigners which focuses on participation and creating unity among outsiders. foreign tourists to come to learn and experience the lifestyle of the community by focusing on indigo The last issue is the art and culture of the dyeing cloth communities in Sakon Nakhon community which is presented in the form of a path Province. There are 2 communities as: Ban Nong that adheres to the concept of OTOP tourism Khrong and Ban Don Kloy. From the study, it is communities in 2 ways which are 1 ) local dance found that the tourism activities offered to foreign and 2 ) baisri sukhwan both of which have been tourists give importance to the culture of the inherited from the project organization. To create community, especially woven fabrics. It is different the attraction of tourists they are also performing from the first format mentioned above by using the arts that are meaningful and important to the local community as a base for organizing tourism community. That is, dance performing art. The thai forms and blending them with other cultural baisri sukhwan dance is an effective group of traditions, such as provincial tourist sites, markets, people in the community. Because such activities and important religious places in the province and require cooperation from many groups of people there is a workshop for foreign tourists to enhance and also present the art of dressing in their original important learning experiences. indigenous groups. Therefore, art and culture are Community’s tourism forms in both research important factors that must be taken priorities in areas were presented in indigo dyeing community tourism. in order to provide the opportunity to foreign From the above, it can be concluded that the tourists to visit and appreciate the value of life, pattern of the route is based on the concept of culture and arts of the community, including local OTOP tourism community. The innovations of Ban knowledge related to indigo dyeing. However, the Nong Khrong and Ban Kham Kha communities said activity does not give tourists the opportunity have similar forms, namely, presenting 3 important to practice or learn very deeply internally. They get points, namely, important places of the community, only the opportunity to see and observe. The distinctive identity of the community and the arts common feeling and depth of the indigo dyeing and culture of the community. The 3 points can be culture opened for tourists is just a picture of the considered as base for learning and leading to the differences of the two communities, that is, first distribution of income to the people in the community produced fabric for sale while from the community. It is to strengthen and develop local other community can see the second form of economy of the community. tourism presenting via the following chart. 117
5. Pokkasina Chathiphot et al/ No.19_Sep 2020|p.108-120 From the above chart, it can be explained that can be developed as a form of creative tourism for the Sakon Nakhon Bio Tourism route model has these communities comes from 1) the diversity of focused on the learning process of the prototype natural resources and the diversity of wisdom and community in terms of products that are registered culture. (Emphasizing the importance of indigo as geographical indications and jointly create ways dyeing wisdom) 2) religious sites and temples 3) to learn about biological resources and local ethnic groups When the cultural capital of the wisdom Which is used to create an economic value community in the research area is assembled and added but stands on the base of the community and analyze the problems that occurred from previous local wisdom in each area especially indigo-dyed tourism management then take it to determine and cotton fabric of Ban Un-Dong community. Which draw conclusions from people in the area to get a is considered to be the first GI standard in Sakon creative tourism management model, whereby the 4 Nakhon Province. It becomes an important research communities are combined each community product and cultural product that can community has different forms of tourism generate income for the people in the community management. No duplication despite having similar and helps to clearly improve the community cultural capital therefore creating a form of creative economy. tourism which will be discussed in the following 3. The development of a suitable creative details tourism route model from the base of biodiversity The researchers used 3 types of cultural capital and cultural capital based on the local wisdom of to classify points of interest and places. Interesting indigo dyeing that is on the path of tourism forms, the first issue is From the context study in the research area about indigo dyed fabrics. By considering the together with the analysis of the tourism route characteristics of the 4 indigo dyeing communities, pattern that has been done in Sakon Nakhon before using them to define the characteristics of Province. It made the researchers see that each form the creative tourism styles differently from the of tourism and each community has some strengths study found that Ban Oundong community has the and limitations that make the travel path format distinctive characteristics of indigo planting which different. According to studies, it has been found is planted the area is over 20 rai wide and indigo that these strengths and limitations come from cultivation is a flat area between the valleys of the geographic conditions. Community readiness and Phu Phan mountain range. The plantation is in the people, which are important factors for driving form of a group of indigo growers, Ban Oundong- tourism. However, the researcher found that what Nong Chaiwan. The period of planting from May until August will enter the indigo harvest season. 119
6. Pokkasina Chathiphot et al/ No.19_Sep 2020|p.108-120 research suggests that creative tourists should be to 2. The factors that contributed to the engage in activities such as photography, painting, strengthening of weaving community, pottery making, food and handicraft work 3. Research results should be extended to other especially participation in learning about groups in the community employing the community handicrafts from indigo dyeing works of the empowerment approach from case study of indigo community. This includes to having knowledge dyed cloth. learnt from wisdom teachers who are engaged in References indigo making and indigo dyeing. This is in line 1. Chathiphot, P. (2017). The role of Phu Tai with the tourists' behavior of Smith (2003) that each women through their local wisdom of indigo-dyed type of tourists are interested in different places and textile in community strengthening in Sakon tourism activities which can be used as a guideline Nakhon province, Thailand. in formulating strategies to meet the needs which International Symposium on Social Sciences will lead to revenue generation for tourist and Management. January 19-21, 2017. Hokkaido, destinations while promoting knowledge, Japan. pp. 315-328. understanding and preserving the culture of the community. 2. Pongsan Srisomsap. (2016). Creative Tourism Model for ASEAN Economi Community Conclusion (AEC) : A case study of Chon Bun Province. This research study is one of the important Faculty of Political Science, Ramkhamhaeng strategies of Sakon Nakhon province on trade University. investment and tourism by having a tourism policy 3. Chiranut Sopha et al. (2015). The of 3 cities that is composed of nature, dharma and Development of Gastronomic Tourism Routes in culture together. This can be an aid to attract a ASEAN. Suan Dusit Rajabhat University. variety of tourists, thus leading to develop into a 4. Chathiphot, D. (2015). Women’s life of concrete creative tourism. In addition, Sakon weaving and indigo dyeing: Transmission and Nakhon Province is under the group of the upper Creative wisdom of Phu Tai Indigo Dye Textile. northeast region 2 which has the potential to drive The 5th Cultural Research: Culture in Life and Life the economy resulting from creative tourism in Culture: 5 July 2015. Bangkok: Department of because there are a variety of natural attractions, Cultural Promotion, pp. 6-20. biological resources and local knowledge including 5. Viboon Leesuwan. (1984). Folk crafts. ethnic groups with unique identities and is also a Bangkok: Banya.2007). Encyclopedia of fabrics bridge on the eastern economic corridor connecting and weaving machines. Bangkok: Muang Boran. to ASEAN countries and southern China. Therefore, it is necessary to plan for development 6. Richards, G. (2011). Creativity and tourism: of the region as a secondary city for tourist The state of the art. Annals of Tourism destination. Research 38, 4, p.1225-1253. Suggestions and Recommendations 7.Department of Intellectual Property. (2015). Announcement of the Department of Intellectual This study should extend Property Registration of Geographical indication 1. The study of the factors that affect the : accomplishment of creative tourism in the weaving Natural indigo fabric, Sakon Nakhon. 11 March community, 2015. 121